Monday, December 9, 2019
Australian Government Multicultural Policy-Samples for Students
Question: Discuss about the Australian Government Multicultural Policy. Answer: Introduction Multiculturalism, ethnic diversity and cultural tolerance have always been the policy of the Australian government. Multiculturalism means tolerance towards every culture (Castles, Hugo Vasta, 2013). Post Second World War in the year 1973 Australia abolished the White Australia policy and incorporated migration on the expectation that migrants would shed their language and culture to become equal of the host population (Joseph, 2017). Australian government also segregated expanse to assist the migrants for their welfare and development (Ng Metz, 2015). The Australian Parliament stood by racial tolerance saying equal rights to all Australians irrespective of their race, origin, creed or color. The government had incorporated the term Multiculturalism in the same year that allowed migrants to form national association to promote their culture and heritage and for the survival of their language (Collins, 2013). Multicultural Policy of Australia Australia considers its multicultural diversification to be the national identity and a prominent landmark in Australian history and character. Multicultural diversification in Australia is in the favor of national interest of the country as well as culminating linguistic, cultural and religious diversity within the country (Keddie, 2014). Multicultural policy of Australia had given privilege to the people residing in Australia to share and practice their culture and tradition within the country (Joseph, 2017). Today, one among four Australian is born overseas which comprises of the nations total population of 22 million people. According to a report, 44 percent of the Australian population was born overseas or have parents who were (Ng Metz, 2015). It also states that around 4 million Australian people speak language different than English. Australias multicultural advisory council is endorsing multiculturalism within Australia (Ho, 2013). According to them embracing multiculturali sm will benefit and strengthen the community and will bring values and tradition in the society. It aims to formulate an environment that provides equitable service to the Australians. Australian character towards multi diverse community has given the country a competitive edge in the globalised environment (Ozdowski, 2013). Principles of Australian Multicultural Policy Principle 1: Australias diverse culture propagates its policy as everyone belongs. Australia recognizes and celebrates the diversity within the national legal framework. It aims at unity, harmony and maintaining democratic values (Keddie, 2014). The contrast of this principle is in the facts that, apart from being a diverse country with a wide range of people who belong form different ethnic background, the only language, which is taught in the schools and is encouraged by the government is English. Principle 2: Australian government has taken an oath to provide socially cohesive society, meaning everyone would be eligible to benefit from the resource and opportunity provided by the country (Modood, 2013). Citizen of Australian from diverse background is entitled to access to government service. It will make the Australian citizen understand their value in the country, so that they will participate wholeheartedly for the betterment of the society (Pietsch, 2013). In Australia is a growing issue within the country of the people who are immigrants and are looking for places to stay. A feeling o uncertainty and even aggression is observed towards certain kinds of immigrants is growing and becoming a common phenomenon. There is a contrast in the outlook of people regarding immigration policies. Australia have been perceived as tolerant society and its recent policies on compulsory custody for refuge seekers gives rise to a contradictory situation that mirrors a sense of lack of confidence that seems to be implanted in the people of Australia. Principle 3: Immigrants in Australia are skilled and can provide well for the labor-based industry. Economic renewal and prosperity brought by these immigrants in the community have opened the door of Australia to the world. The diversity of the nation has given Australia the competitive edge it needs in the global market (Ng Metz, 2015). There are several cases of illegal immigration and refugee issues, which are arising on a daily basis and there are hardly any policies to combat the situation or to elevate the situation of such immigration in the country. Principle 4: Australian government is willing to provide protection against social discrimination and is intolerant towards racism. Racism and social discrimination affect lives of people, both well being and health of the people (Pietsch, 2013). It also denies opportunity to access services and benefits provided by the government. Thus, Australian government stand against discrimination, racism, prejudice and intolerance have given them the edge in the global market (Ozdowski, 2013). Acceptance of Aborigines has been one of the greatest setbacks of Australias multiculturalism. Aborigines are of the view that their rights and position being singularly different. The government has not solved this problem regarding the acceptance of Aborigines yet. Responsibility and Right Australias multicultural society and democracy is built on the fundamental right and responsibility of people residing in Australia. Upholding democracy and law and respecting the liberties and rights of the nation is the key towards building a stronger nation (Modood, 2013). The rights enable the citizens of Australia to practice, celebrate and maintain their cultural tradition, language and heritage within law and free of any kind of discrimination (Ho, 2013). Future of Multicultural in Australia Australia as a nation will keep on evolving and will keep on diversifying its population. They will hold their ground of being multicultural to create equal opportunities for a stronger economy, prosperity and brighter future for Australia. Thus, it will bring the benefit of cultural and social diversity in the nation (Keddie, 2014). Initiatives Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) The government has established an independent body to advice and consults on policies regulated by government bodies on the topic of Multiculturalism (Ozdowski, 2013). AMC will have boarder reference in the Australia society, which are: It will act as an independent body in the multicultural country. It will formulate strong strategy regarding access and equity. It will research and advise the government on multicultural policy. It will conduct celebration on cultural diversification and organize activities on harmony day. AMC will keep on advising government on multicultural affaires. Government will appoint independent selection process for, free and fair selection. It will provide non-partisan and independent framework (Jakubowicz Ho, 2014). Anti Racism Australias strict policy on discrimination and racism is to develop, design and implement new strategy (Ozdowski, 2013). It will give effort on five key areas such as: Consultation and Research Public Awareness Education Youth Engagement Ongoing Evaluation It will help fragment other human rights programs and strength the bond between its citizens by formulating new strategies that will help builds on the resources available to them (Ho, 2013). Multicultural Sport Partnership Program Sports and recreational activities have always helped building communal and social cohesion (Baker Rowe, 2014). The Australian government has established Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program, which enables to create connection and help involve youth to form relationship with emerging communities and linguistically and culturally diverse background (Castles, Hugo Vasta, 2013). Cynic Aspect of the Situation Multiculturalism been incorporated in the Australian governance for more than 40 years now, but it is still remains as a matter of conflict among the common population of Australia (Castles, Hugo Vasta, 2013). However, multiculturalism has found resentment in the heart of the country since the Cronulla riot of 2005, where natives in the name of aggressive nationalism challenged multiculturalism (Collins, 2013). Though Australian society stands for multiculturalism, it never officially acknowledges the festivals or carnivals of other community (Metz et al. 2016). Similarly, the languages and cloths that are used by the diverse population of the country do not get any promotion form behalf of the Australian government (Pietsch, 2013). Some critics believe that the security of the nation will be at risk due to the promotion of multiculturalism, as it enclaves the society this will result into internal clash within the society (Joseph, 2017). The authenticity and the existence of their own culture will be at risk as well with the increase in immigration and refugees from outside the boarders (Blair, 2015). Due to this, there has been a subsequent fall of immigrants in the recent past. The host nation is quite expensive for the taste of immigrants, who find it hard to settle in Australia (Collins, 2013). Australias other policies restricts the resident of the nation to chaperon parents from another country and making them natives. Though there are strict policies against racism in Australia, the diverse subcultures of the region always find it difficult to co-exist with each other resulting in an outburst (Modood, 2013). Recently there have been several incidents regarding racial discrimination and unrest among the Australian population. For example, there has been an increased incident against the Islamic community (Ho, 2013). Conclusion Australia welcomes people from all caste, creed, color and race to participate in the wellbeing and development of the country. The government of Australia organizes a lot of programs and services to empower people coming from different cultural and ethnic background. Australia regulates strong policies to discourage discrimination and racism. Australias motto of collectivism has given them the edge of competency in the market of globalization. Australias favors of diver society have given them skilled labors that have helped the nation to have economical growth, prosperity in the community. It brings energy, enterprise and ingenuity in the society. Diverse culture and multilingual workforce have given Australia the competitive edge in the globalised world. It is also important to understand that the multiculturalism policy as incorporated by the Australian government without consulting and support of the public, is taking a toll now as people is now being repulsive about the entire thing. People believe that diversity in the nation is a deleterious effect of multiculturalism and adding to that is perpetuated growth, because waves of immigrants flocked into the nation. Reference list: Baker, S. A., Rowe, D. (2014). Mediating mega events and manufacturing multiculturalism: The cultural politics of the world game in Australia.Journal of Sociology,50(3), 299-314. Blair, K. (2015). Young adults attitudes towards multiculturalism in Australia: tensions between the multicultural state and the intercultural citizen.Journal of Intercultural Studies,36(4), 431-449. Castles, S., Hugo, G., Vasta, E. (2013). Rethinking migration and diversity in Australia: introduction.Journal of Intercultural Studies,34(2), 115-121. Collins, J. (2013). Multiculturalism and immigrant integration in Australia.Canadian Ethnic Studies,45(3), 133-149. Ho, C. (2013). From social justice to social cohesion: a history of Australian multicultural policy.'For those who've come across the seas': Australian multicultural theory, policy and practice. Jakubowicz, A., Ho, C. (Eds.). (2014).For those whove come across the seas...: Australian Multicultural Theory, Policy and Practice. Anthem Press. Joseph, R. (2017). Multiculturalism: a liberal perspective.Postfilosofie, (2), 29-49. Keddie, A. (2014). Australian multicultural policy: Social cohesion through a political conception of autonomy.Journal of sociology,50(4), 408-421. Metz, I., Ng, E. S., Cornelius, N., Hoobler, J. M., Nkomo, S. (2016). 5. A comparative review of multiculturalism in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa.Research Handbook of International and Comparative Perspectives on Diversity Management, 131. Modood, T. (2013).Multiculturalism. John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Ng, E. S., Metz, I. (2015). Multiculturalism as a strategy for national competitiveness: The case for Canada and Australia.Journal of Business Ethics,128(2), 253-266. Ozdowski, S. (2013). Australian multiculturalism. The roots of its success.Promoting changes in times of transition and crisis: Reflections on human rights education. Krakow: Ksiegarnia Akademicka. Retrieved from: https://? www.? akademicka.? pl. Pietsch, J. (2013). Immigration and refugees: punctuations in the Commonwealth policy agenda.Australian Journal of Public Administration,72(2), 143-155
Monday, December 2, 2019
The Key Dimensions of Quality
Introduction Over time, several debates have been conducted by various scholars to aptly define quality. In essence, quality is a simple concept. However, there are many dynamics and aspects that are variably used by scholars to pin-point the exact meaning of quality. It is for this reason that quality means different things to different people and countless of debates are still ongoing to find an aptly fitting definition.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Key Dimensions of Quality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For the purpose of this paper, quality will be generally, yet representatively inclusive, defined as the ability of a product or service to meet the expected needs of its clients (Pereira, 2008). In this definition, several vital aspects such as performance, perceived quality, value and aesthetic value have to be put into consideration. It is with thisââ¬âand many other reasons in mindââ¬âthat this paper seeks to define the key aspects of quality. In doing so, fitting examples from the field of Human Resource Management (HRM) will be used to exemplify each of the defined dimensions Performance According to Seidel et al. (2009), performance simply refers to the assessment of whether a product or service has performed as it is purposed to do. In assessing performance, an evaluation has to be done on the strengths and weaknesses of the product or service then an overall rating is done as to whether it performed or not. For example, in HR Management, performance can be measured by assessing whether the workers of a company served its clients appropriately. From a managerial perspective, performance majorly entails profitability by the company, satisfaction of clients and satisfaction of the workers (Pilbeam Corbridge, 2006). Features Just like the name suggests, features refer to the specific attributes, traits or characteristics of a product or service that enables it to s erve its intended purpose (Gibbs, 2010). Other than enabling a product or service to serve its purpose in terms of performance, features also play the irreplaceable role of defining a particular product or service in aspects such as brand management. A good example of such is the difference in features of phones from companies like Nokia, Apple and Samsung. For efficacy in HR Management, there has to be close coordination between the managers, workers and clients so that products and services are tailored with the appropriate features that meet the needs of the target market (Seidel et al., 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reliability With regards to HR Management, reliability emphasizes on the trustworthiness or dependability of a product of service over a given period of time. In assessing the quality, a product or service must be able to perform as is required over a given period of time while intermittently being able to avoid unnecessary brake-downs, failures and down-times (Gibbs, 2010). For example, reliability of a HR manager can be assessed by his ability to perform his duties in a dependable way over a particular duration. Just like features, reliability goes a long way in portraying a company image thus should be keenly considered by those in charge of quality issues in the company. Conformance This dimension of quality answers the question; does a product or service conform to the required features or specifications? Conformance can be based on various aspects of quality. For example, some products or services are specifically designed to conform to reliability whereas others are simply for performance. In HR Management, conformance is sometimes used to refer to the ability of a product or service to match up with the requirements in the market (Bratton Gold, 2007). For instance, based on the ever increasing relevance and importance of IT (Information and Technology) issues in todayââ¬â¢s business-oriented world; most recruitment personnel in companies have made it mandatory for the prospective workers to have basic knowledge in IT. In this regard, the need to have IT-compliant workers is viewed as a form of compliance to the elemental importance of knowledge in IT. Durability In most occasions, durability is viewed as a subset of reliability. This is majorly based on the relevance of the aspect of time. However, unlike reliability which stresses more-or-less on performance, durability is chiefly concerned with the quality of a product or service based on its ability to function effectively and last over a long period of time. Additionally, durability strongly considers issues such as tare and ware of a product. The durability of a product hugely determines crucial aspects of quality such as warranty. As a general rule, products or services that are durable tend to have longer warranties than those with less durability. Based on such knowledge on durability, HR Managers can easily tailor their products and services to be durable so as to attract and retain as many customers as possible (Pilbeam Corbridge, 2006). Serviceability Serviceability simply refers to the ease in maintenance of a product or service. Most products that are reliable and durable witness less functionality and performance problems thus easily serviceable. It is worth noting that, based on their simplistic features or components, some products are easy to maintain.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Key Dimensions of Quality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, vehicles tend to be more difficult to service when compared to motorcycles. This ease or difficulty of product maintenance is also referred to as serviceability. For HR Managers, serviceability is not only vital in terms of maintenance and repair of products for performance of t hese products but it also helps in cost-efficacy since well maintained products are less faulty thus less need to incur costs in repairing or maintaining them. Aesthetics Aesthetics refer to the outward beauty of a product or service. In todayââ¬â¢s world, beauty plays an important role in marketing of products or services. It is based on this reason that HR Managers in most, if not all, companies usually strive to create aesthetic products and services attract clients (Gibbs, 2010). Tare and ware often destroys the aesthetic value of a product. It is during such instances that aspects of quality such as serviceability come in handy in-terms of conducting maintenance and repairs. Perceived Quality The manner in which human beings perceive things greatly determines how they get to deal with day-to-day endeavors. Aptly put in the words of Pereira (2008), ââ¬Å"perception is realityâ⬠, in other words, our perceptions determine our realities. Needless to say, different people p erceive different things in different ways based on differences in cultures, beliefs or even religious backgrounds. These differences hugely determine how these people interpret the quality of certain products or services. For example, conservative societies tend to appreciate ââ¬Å"decentâ⬠clothing like full dresses for women. In the permissive societies, decency plays a very minor role and thatââ¬â¢s the reason women in such societies can get to walk in the streets with very exposing clothes in the name of fashion. Consequently, HR Managers should preliminarily be aware of the perceptions of their clients. Once they have firm background knowledge on the people targeted by their products and services, it will be relatively easy to serve them fittingly. Value In most instances, value and quality are often used synonymously and interchangeably since they tend to refer to the same thing. The value of a product or service is usually based on almost all the dimensions of quali ty that have been discussed above. The distinguishing feature that separates value from quality is that, in a good number of instances, value hugely relies on individual perceptions and the sentimental or emotional element of products or services. On the other hand, quality tends to be a combination of all the aforementioned aspects balanced in a more-or-less universally accepted way. Over time, HR Managers have been able to study the perceptions and values of individuals or groups of people in regards to quality and it has been found that the value of a product can be easily created by market controllers when compared to other aspects such as durability. Through such mechanisms, products or services whose quality is spiraling downwards can be easily rejuvenated by these HR Managers (Adams Goldbard, 2002).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion From the discussions above, it is eminently evident that all the key dimensions discussed herein are interrelated in one way or another. The success of one dimension hugely determines the success of the other. So, if overall efficacy is to be witnessed in terms of quality of products or services, HR Managers, and other concerned parties, must find a way of ensuring that all these dimensions of quality are equally facilitated. References Adams, D., Goldbard, A. (2002). Community, culture and globalization. New York: Rockefeller Foundation. Bratton, J., Gold, J. (2007). Human resource management: theory and practice (4th ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Gibbs, G. (2010). Dimensions of quality. Retrieved from http://uadm.uu.se/digitalAssets/91/a_91639-f_Dimensions-of-Quality.pdf Pereira, R. (2008). 8 dimensions of quality. Web. Pilbeam, S., Corbridge, M. (2006). People resourcing: contemporary hrm in practice. London, UK: Prentice Hall. Seidel, S., Tishman, S., Winn er, E., Hetland, L., Palmer, P. (2009). The qualities of quality: Understanding excellence in arts education. Retrieved from https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Documents/Understanding-Excellence-in-Arts-Education.pdf This essay on The Key Dimensions of Quality was written and submitted by user Isai Hardin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Diminishing Returns Essays - Production Economics, Economics Laws
Diminishing Returns Essays - Production Economics, Economics Laws Diminishing Returns Law of Diminishing Returns The Law of diminishing returns is a key one in economics. It is used to explain many of the ways the economy works and changes. It is a relatively simple idea; spending and investing more and more in a product where one of the factors of production remains the same means the enterprise will eventually run out of steam. The returns will begin to diminish in the long run. If more fertilizer and better machinery are used on an acre of farmland, the yield will increase for a while but then begin to slow and become flat. A farmer can only get so much out of the land, and the more the farmer works, the harder it gets. The economic reason for diminishing returns of capital is as follows: When the capital stock is low, there are many workers for each machine, and the benefits of increasing capital further are great; but when the capital stock is high, workers already have plenty of capital to work with, and little benefit is to be gained from expanding capital further. For example, in a secr etarial pool in which there are many more secretaries than computer terminals, each terminal is constantly being utilized and secretaries must waste time waiting for a free terminal. In this situation, the benefit in terms of increased output of adding extra terminals is high. However, if there are already as many terminals as secretaries, so that terminals are often idle and there is no waiting for a terminal to become available, little additional output can be obtained by adding yet another terminal. Another application for this law is in Athletics, for runners, their investment is the time and energy put into training and the yield is hopefully improved fitness. Early in their running careers or early in the training program a couple of weeks of regular training would be rewarded with a considerable increase in fitness. Having achieved a very fit state though, two weeks of regular training will achieve a barely perceptible increase in fitness. But in todays world, this famous law seems to have been turned on its head. In Japan, for example, huge amounts of investment have resulted in large increases in the economy and large increases in capital goods per worker. But the rate of productivity growth did not decline the way one would have expected on the basis of diminishing returns. Japan got ahead and stayed ahead.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Four Studying Tips for an Essay Test
Four Studying Tips for an Essay Test Test day is here. Youââ¬â¢ve packed your brain full of definitions, dates, and details, preparing for a marathon of multiple choice and true false questions, and now youââ¬â¢re staring at a single, solitary, terrifying essay question. How could this happen? Youââ¬â¢re suddenly fighting for your life (okay, a grade), and your only weapons are a blank piece of paper and a pencil. What can you do? Next time, prepare for the test as if you know it will be an essay test.ââ¬â¹ Why Do Teachers Use Essay Questions? Essay questions are based on themes and overall ideas. Teachers like to use essay questions because they give students the opportunity to express everything theyââ¬â¢ve learned over the weeks or months, using their own words. Essay test answers reveal more than the bare facts, though. When submitting essay answers, students are expected to cover lots of information in an organized, sensible manner. But what if you prepare for an essay question and the teacher doesnââ¬â¢t ask one? No problem. If you use these tips and understand the themes and ideas of the test period, the other questions will come easily. 4 Essay Question Study Tips Review chapter titles. Textbook chapters often refer to themes. Look at each relevant title and think of smaller ideas, chains of events, and relevant terms that fit within that theme.As you take notes, look for teacher code words. If you hear your teacher use words like ââ¬Å"once again we seeâ⬠or ââ¬Å"another similar event occurred,â⬠make note of it. Anything that indicates a pattern or chain of events is key.Think of a theme every day. Every few nights as you review your class notes, look for themes. Come up with your own essay questions based on your themes.Practice your essay questions. As you do, make sure you use vocabulary terms found in your notes and text. Underline them as you go, and go back to review their relevance. If you take effective notes and think in terms of themes as you study each night, youââ¬â¢ll be prepared for every type of test question. Youââ¬â¢ll soon find that, in understanding the theme of each lesson or chapter, youââ¬â¢ll begin to think more like your teacher thinks. You will also begin to form a deeper understanding of the test material overall.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Cargo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Cargo - Essay Example This report will discuss the opportunities that Etihad cargo needs to adopt in order to continue with its outstanding performance and to ensure that the cargo business is growing. It is believed that the current Etihad Cargo warehouse is worn out since it is not operating toward achieving the goal of the company. The company needs to look at various issues that are leading to this situation this is because, the cargo business is said to increase tremendously. Plans are underway to ensure that the company acquires new freighters and open new destinations so as to increase its opportunities of making more profits. New freighters will imply that the company opens up a modern warehouse with the capacity to handle large cargos. The current warehouse is small and in poor state to handle large cargoes in that it is ill equipped to an extent that it cannot sustain live animals for more than six hours. The racks in the warehouse are damaged which leads to unavailability of space. The new warehouse is required to handle cargoes that come in and out from all corners of the world. This will mean that the company has new facility which will open opportunity to present new business lines. It is vital for the company to change its managerial style since imports and exports have increased which makes products management more intricate. Warehouse management will foresee some benefits to Etihad Cargo such as enhanced order fulfillment expediency, potentiality to meet specific requirements made by customers and increase inventory accuracy. Despite the fact that warehouse management will be costly to cargo department, the benefits surpass the losses since the management will reduce errors and manage the warehouse keeping in mind that our cargo business in growing. The cargo sales department is given the responsibility of looking for business opportunities in places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Etihad Company ought to increase its shares in UAE
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Reaction Paper #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Reaction Paper #1 - Essay Example In the end an air hostess walks in and offers the boy an ice-cream which quells the competition after they decide they should have some to. This advertisement is a very good one as it manages to get it point across in a humorous and light hearted way. The message of the advert is based on the excellent experience one is able to gain from their services and they manage to depict it splendidly. They do this by depicting two famous personalities in two different sports who may argue but agree on one thing and that is the service of Qatar airlines. Their differences are seen by their struggle over the boyââ¬â¢s attention and their agreement is depicted when they both agree to get some ice scream. The use of the two stars is also a good strategy as it ensures that it catches the attention of their target audience which can be said to be fans of the two sports (that is, basketball and soccer). Using well known personalities is a good way of gaining the viewers attention in a short period of time (Arens 184). The various antics that the stars pull such as making balloon animals, give it an unexpected twist which can be used to keep the viewers interested. All in all, the advert keeps the viewers attention from the start to the finish and allows them to understand the point of the clip without putting much thought into it which is what a good advertisement is all about (Arens
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Obesity Debate Essay Example for Free
Obesity Debate Essay In the five section article, ââ¬Å"Rethinking Weightâ⬠by Amanda Spake, the author outlines the conflict surrounding whether obesity classifies as a disease. Spake discusses the prevalence of obesity in America and sheds light on the idea that obesity may contain genetic roots. The article continues with the authorââ¬â¢s insights into whether weight or fitness retains the most importance. Spake concludes the article with thoughts on the growing concern of insurance coverage and obesity treatment. The author claims that ââ¬Å"At the heart of this obesity epidemic is a debate over whether obesity is a biological ââ¬Ëdiseaseââ¬â¢ and should be treated like any other life-threatening illness ââ¬â cancer, heart disease ââ¬â or whether it is simply a risk factor for these killersâ⬠(282). Spake successfully supports the claim by incorporating a narrative account, explaining the biology, psychology, and scientific research of obesity, and stating how society may already classify obesity as a disease, but Spake strays from the idea of obesity qualifying as a disease when she describes the role insurance companies play when paying for obesity treatment. The article begins with a narrative account of Maria Pfisterer. Spake uses Maria Pfistererââ¬â¢s story to reveal the struggles obesity and dieting inflict upon a person. According to the author, Pfistererââ¬â¢s many attempted diets, in terms of weight ââ¬Å"All resulted in a little lost and more regained,â⬠which supports the idea of weight and dieting inflicting a constant burden in the lives of many Americans (282). Spake also included in the story of Pfistererââ¬â¢s weight battle the idea that no matter how hard Pfisterer tried to lose weight or what method Pfisterer thought to try, the weight never permanently disappeared, which in turn supports the concept of obesity being more than just a physical ailment. The author also discusses the possible treatment of gastric bypass surgery for Pfisterer, which remains unavailable to Pfisterer due to the high cost and specific criteria an individual must possess in order to receive the surgery. The narrative story provides an appeal to emotions by showing one womanââ¬â¢s struggle with weight and the effect that struggle embodies in Pfistererââ¬â¢s life. The story also provides a persuasive element, influencing a want for Pfisterer to achieve her personal weight goals. The author pinpoints a personââ¬â¢s biology and psychological state as possible factors in the development of obesity. Xavier Pi-Sunyer from the Obesity Research Center at St. Lukeââ¬â¢s-Roosevelt Hospital suggests ââ¬Å"â⬠¦obesity is a biologically determined processâ⬠(282). Many weight researchers also believe that ââ¬Å"obesity is controlled by a powerful biological system of hormones, proteins, neurotransmitters, and genes that regulate fat storage and body weight and tell the brain when, what, and how much to eatâ⬠(284). Rudolph Leibel, a Columbia University geneticist, also states, ââ¬Å"I believe there are strong genetic factors that determine susceptibility to obesityâ⬠(285). The given beliefs demonstrate how obesity qualifies as more than a personal decision. A personââ¬â¢s biology resists changes; therefore, the idea of obesity as a biological condition contains validity for Spakeââ¬â¢s claim. The author also includes Brian Wansinkââ¬â¢s perspective, ââ¬Å"obesity is not just biology; itââ¬â¢s psychologyâ⬠(286). The brain plays a key role in how obesity operates differently in individuals. The author continues to explain how, psychologically, obese individuals hold no control over the eating habits the overweight display. Spakeââ¬â¢s inclusion of biological and psychological ideas presented by reliable professionals persuades critical audiences to agree with the authorââ¬â¢s claim. Scientific research also plays a part in the obesity debate. Spake uses a variety of logos and ethos information to support the claim of the ongoing debate over the classification of obesity. The article incorporates the use of statistics from various studies on weight and obesity to solidify the authorââ¬â¢s beliefs. The author gives a shocking statistic that ââ¬Å"A majority of Americansââ¬ânow 64 à percentââ¬âare overweight or obese and struggling to conquer their expanding waistlines before their fat overtakes their healthâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (282). A study done of twins showed that 20 to 70 percent of weight issues developed through inheritance. Another study conducted by RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions stated, ââ¬Å"the nation is spending about $75 billion a year on weight-related diseaseâ⬠(283). Spake even includes the statistic saying that, ââ¬Å"Simply eating with one other person increases the average amount eaten at meals by 44 percent,â⬠which refers to the psychological aspect of obesity (286). The authorââ¬â¢s use of statistical information provides a strong backing for Spakeââ¬â¢s claim about the obesity debate. Although not officially categorized as a disease, some organizations in society already list obesity as a disease. Spake chooses to include examples of situations in society where obesity may already encompass similar characteristics to a disease. The diseases that result from excessive amounts of weight embody a prominent situation described by the author. ââ¬Å"Almost 80 percent of obese adults have one of these conditions, and nearly 40 percent have two or more,â⬠Spake suggests when referring to diseases, such as heart disease, Type II diabetes, and high cholesterol that relate to the presence of obesity. Another example the author mentions confirms that, ââ¬Å"The WHO has listed obesity as a disease in its International Classification of Disease since 1979.â⬠Spake raises concern as to why obesity still remains uncategorized as an official disease when large quantities of overweight individuals contract other diseases due to the affliction of obesity and when a substantial organization already includes obesity in a database of diseases. Another statistic included in the discussion reads ââ¬Å"About 325,000 deaths a year are attributed to obesityâ⬠(283). This shocking statistic sparks the question of why obesity lacks the definition of a disease even further. However, the author strays from her claim when insurance problems come into the article. Bringing the topic of insurance into the discussion provides no backing for any of the authorââ¬â¢s claim. Spake chose to incorporate that ââ¬Å"The health insurance industry argues that obesity treatmentsà canââ¬â¢t be coveredâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (287). The claim refers to whether obesity classifies as a disease, not the effect of insurance coverage on those affected by obesity. Also, the author included that ââ¬Å"the costâ⬠¦of treatment and health insurance will escalateâ⬠(288). The price tag of treatment and rising insurance costs gives no support to the debate of obesity classifying as a disease that Spake claims as the purpose of the article. The inclusion of the insurance debacle distracts from the key issues the article puts forth, leaving readers to question the main idea of the article. In summation, Spake successfully supports the claim by incorporating a narrative account, explaining the biology, psychology, and scientific research of obesity, and stating how society may already classify obesity as a disease, but Spake strays from the claim when she describes the role of insurance companies in paying for obesity treatment. Works Cited Spake, Amanda. ââ¬Å"Rethinking Weight.â⬠Writing and Reading for ACP Composition. Comp. Thomas E. Leahey and Christine R. Farris. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2009. 285-88. Print.
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